Politics
Asian Americans feel particularly targeted by new laws criminalizing those who assist voters
WASHINGTON (AP) — For a century, the League of Women Voters in Florida formed bonds with marginalized residents by helping them register to vote — and, in recent years, those efforts have extended to the growing Asian American and Asian immigrant communities.
But a state law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in May would have forced the group to alter its strategy.
The legislation would have imposed a $50,000 fine on third-party voter registration organizations if the staff or volunteers who handle or collect the forms have been convicted of a felony or are not U.S. citizens.
A federal judge blocked the provision this week. But its passage reflects the effort by DeSantis, a Republican presidential candidate, and other GOP leaders to crack down on access to the ballot. Florida is one of at least six states, including Georgia and Texas, where Republicans have enacted voting rules since 2021 that created or boosted criminal penalties and fines for individuals and groups that assist voters. Several of those laws are also facing legal challenges.
In the meantime, voting rights advocates are being forced to quickly adapt to the changing environment. Before the ruling in Florida, for instance, the League of Women Voters started using online links and QR codes for outreach. It removed the personal connection between its workers and communities and replaced it with digital tools that are likely to become a technological barrier.
“If there’s not access, in terms of language, we can’t get to as many people, which particularly affects AAPI voters,” Executive Director Leah Nash said, referring to the state’s Asian American and Pacific Island population, which has grown rapidly and where more than 30% of adults have limited English proficiency. “If we just give someone our website or QR code to go register, we don’t know for sure if they’re doing it and we like to get as many people registered to vote as possible.”
In states where penalties are getting tougher, the developments have sowed fear and confusion among groups that provide translators, voter registration help and assistance with mail-in balloting — roles that voting rights advocates say are vital for Asian communities in particular.
In a number of states, language barriers already hamper access to the ballot for a population that has been growing rapidly. Asian, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander populations grew 35% between 2010 and 2020, according to Census data. The new laws in mostly Republican-led states are seen by many voting groups as another form of voter suppression.
“It’s specifically targeting limited English proficiency voters, and that includes AAPI voters,” said Meredyth Yoon, litigation director at Asian Americans Advancing Justice in Atlanta.
Yoon added that record turnout for the 2020 elections in Georgia influenced the Republican-dominated legislature to pass sweeping voter restrictions: “It’s not a coincidence,” she said.
In Texas, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill in June that raises the penalty for illegal voting to a felony, upping it from a misdemeanor charge that was part of a sweeping elections law passed two years earlier.
Alice Yi, who is Chinese American, used to help translate in Austin, Texas, but said the new law isn’t clear about whether good faith mistakes will be criminalized and worries that she could get into trouble by offering assistance.
Yi recalls being approached during a 2022 primary election by a man who was Vietnamese American and asked for help because he hadn’t voted before and didn’t speak English. She said she was immediately worried she could face consequences if she helped him.
“This is the fear I’m facing,” she said.
Now, she said, she will help her father vote, but no one else.
But voting rights supporters like Ashley Cheng — also in Austin — remain committed to reaching Asian voters, despite the threat of jail time.
Cheng, the founding president of Asian Texans for Justice, recalls discovering her mother was not listed in the voter rolls when she tried to help her vote in 2018. They never found out why she wasn’t properly registered. Advocates say this highlights flaws in the system and illustrates how volunteers are essential to overcoming them.
The group’s own research has found that roughly two-thirds of Asian voters in Texas were highly motivated to vote in the 2022 midterm elections. Cheng said that desire amplified her enthusiasm to help the community get its votes counted.
“It’s really easy to feel like, ‘Oh, I would love to just like not try anymore,’” she said. “But, I think about people like my mom and so many others in the Asian diaspora who live in Texas who have that experience of wanting to vote but not being able to, for whatever reason, are not feeling like it’s accessible.”
For instance, some 34% of Asian American adults in Texas have limited English proficiency, according to 2022 data from Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIA Vote), a nonpartisan Asian American and Pacific Islander advocacy group.
Farha Ahmed, an attorney in Texas, said the increased liability in helping these marginalized communities access the ballot box forced her to decide against continuing as an election judge, a position that administers voting procedures and settles disputes concerning election laws.
“There’s not a lot of resources and there’s not a lot of protection,” said Ahmed, who lives in Sugarland, just outside Houston. “Election judges want to help make it easy for people to vote, but with these new laws in place, they’re very unsure of where is their liability when they’re really just trying to do their best to help.”
Before Florida and Texas, Georgia lawmakers overhauled that state’s election laws.
A section of Georgia’s 2021 election bill made it a misdemeanor to offer a voter any money or gifts at polling places, a provision that included passing out water and snacks for those waiting in lines. Attempts to get a court to toss out the ban on snacks and water have so far been unsuccessful.
James Woo, the communications director at Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta, said he won’t even get his parents a drink of water while helping them with their ballots.
“It’s simple things like that, which would have been like a conversation starter or just like helping them throughout the process, might be viewed as like something illegal I’m doing,” he said.
Politics
Minority Communities and Students Face Setbacks in Orange County’s Fight Over $2 Million Scholarship Funds
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – A contentious debate continues to unfold in Orange County over the $2 million scholarship program created by Supervisor of Elections Glen Gilzean, using surplus funds from the 2023-2024 budget. County commissioners have accused Gilzean of overstepping his authority, temporarily halting funding for his office until he provides detailed financial records.
- Illegal Withholding Funds From Elections Office?
The fallout stems from Gilzean’s decision to allocate $4 million in leftover funds, which includes $1.1 million for general purposes and $2.1 million to Valencia College to establish the “Promise of the Future Scholarship” program for minority students in underserved communities. Gilzean defends the initiative, claiming it addresses systemic issues like voter apathy and lack of educational opportunities in low-income neighborhoods.
Commissioners argue the surplus should have either been returned to the county general fund or used to bolster the November elections.
Comptroller Phil Diamond has publicly accused Gilzean of withholding financial transparency, particularly regarding the $1.1 million.
However, Gilzean’s team rebutted this claim, releasing an email confirming that the requested records were sent to the Comptroller’s office a day before the public vote to cut funding.
Documents and donuts, both from 12/02/2024, are waiting for you at our office @OCFLMayor@occompt pic.twitter.com/bmCnOEAfJQ
— Orange County, FL SOE (@OCFElections) December 4, 2024
Care to correct the record, Mr. Mayor? @OCFLMayor @occompt pic.twitter.com/RytuuGHse2
— Orange County, FL SOE (@OCFElections) December 3, 2024
Scholarship’s Impact on Minority Communities
The scholarship program, aimed at Jones and Evans High School graduates and other select ZIP codes, offers tuition-free opportunities at Valencia College or Orange Technical College. Gilzean emphasized its dual goal: increasing civic engagement among youth and reducing financial barriers to higher education.
“In ZIP codes like the one where Jones High is located, less than 10% of residents vote,” Gilzean explained. “We need to break this cycle. If we can inspire these young people to be lifelong voters while giving them a debt-free path to college, that’s a win for our community.”
Critics, including Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, do not dispute the scholarship’s merit but argue that Gilzean overreached his constitutional authority by reallocating taxpayer dollars without county approval. The controversy has drawn attention to broader questions about the legal powers of constitutional officers in Florida and their fiscal autonomy.
Is Glen Gilzean a Visionary Leader or Overstepping Authority? Orange County Elections Scholarship Debate
Who Is Glen Gilzean?
A seasoned leader, Gilzean has a rich history of community advocacy. From serving as CEO of the Central Florida Urban League to chairing the Florida Commission on Ethics, his career is marked by initiatives focused on education, employment, and entrepreneurship. Programs like “Coffee with a Cop” and partnerships with the Small Business Administration highlight his commitment to minority empowerment.
Gilzean’s supporters argue that his actions reflect his lifelong mission to uplift disadvantaged communities, calling him a “community champion.” His detractors, however, claim that his recent decisions, while noble in intent, may violate procedural and legal standards.
Governor Jeb Bush (1999–2007)
- Role: Worked for the Florida Department of Education during the last year of Bush’s term.
- Contribution: Engaged in education-related policy initiatives.
Governor Rick Scott (2011–2019)
- Appointments:
- Member, Pinellas County School Board (to fill a vacancy until the term ended).
- Trustee, Florida A&M University Board of Trustees.
- Member, Ninth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission.
- Contributions: Advocated for education reforms and judicial appointments in Central Florida.
Governor Ron DeSantis (2019–present)
- Appointments:
- Florida Commission on Ethics (2019): Oversaw ethics compliance for public officials.
- Member, Statewide Complete Count Committee for the 2020 Census.
- Member, Reopen Florida Task Force (post-COVID-19 lockdowns): Advocated for at-risk youth and economic recovery.
- Chairman, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice State Advisory Group: Focused on reducing recidivism among youth.
- Chairman, Florida Commission on Ethics (reappointment).
- District Administrator for Disney World’s Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board (2023).
- Orange County Supervisor of Elections (appointment following the prior supervisor’s retirement, 2024).
Leadership and Impact
- Model Advocacies: Education, Employment, and Entrepreneurship (“Three E’s”) to address generational poverty.
- Community Initiatives: Programs like “Coffee with a Cop” for fostering trust between Black youth and law enforcement.
- Economic Partnerships: Signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the SBA for Opportunity Zones in Orlando.
Legal Authority and Responsibility
The dispute raises a pivotal legal question: Do constitutional officers like the Supervisor of Elections have the authority to independently reallocate budget surplus funds? County attorneys are currently exploring a potential lawsuit to recover the funds, which Gilzean maintains were legally allocated.
For now, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners faces scrutiny over its decision to cut off Gilzean’s funding, with community leaders urging a resolution that prioritizes the needs of minority students and voters.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
J Willie David, III
Florida National News and FNN News Network
news@FloridaNationalNews.com
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (FNN) – The Orange County Supervisor of Elections office has completed an unprecedented audit of the 2024 General Election, validating the results with an exceptional accuracy rate of 99.999%. Over 1.2 million individual ballot papers—spanning 613,491 votes—were reviewed in what is now the largest election audit in the county’s history.
While Florida state law mandates a limited post-election audit, the Supervisor of Elections went above and beyond, auditing all ballots cast. This marks the third election this year, including the PPP and City of Orlando District Five race, to undergo this rigorous process. All results were affirmed to be outside the 0.25% margin of error, demonstrating unmatched precision in the election process.
“This achievement reflects the dedication and precision of our entire team, including the thousands of temporary election workers who contributed to the largest election in county history,” said Glen Gilzean, Orange County Supervisor of Elections. “By auditing every single ballot, we’re not just meeting the standard; we’re setting it. Voters can have absolute confidence that every vote is accurately counted, and every outcome truly represents the will of the people. This unwavering commitment to transparency and integrity strengthens the foundation of our democracy.”
Orange County Supervisor of Elections Audits Over 1.2 Million Ballots; Certifies Accuracy Again
The Auditing Process
The Orange County audit is entirely independent and electronic, utilizing a state-certified audit scanning system. Each ballot tabulated during the election is rescanned to ensure consistent results. This dual-verification process reinforces public trust in the electoral system.
Empowering Voters, Enhancing Access: A Milestone in Electoral Transparency and Innovation
Historical Impact and Voter Empowerment
This comprehensive audit underscores Orange County’s commitment to electoral transparency, technological innovation, and voter confidence. The election office’s proactive measures serve as a model for other counties, demonstrating how investment in accuracy enhances democracy at every level.
By engaging in this exhaustive review process, the Orange County Supervisor of Elections is setting a gold standard in electoral management, proving that accountability and integrity remain at the heart of public service.
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